The moment Emily stepped off the edge—
Time seemed to shatter.
There was no ground beneath her.
No air to steady her.
Only the violent rush of wind as her body plunged into the glowing abyss below.
A sharp gasp tore from her lips, swallowed instantly by the roaring void. The golden light from the chasm surged upward, wrapping around her like living fire, blinding and endless.
For a heartbeat—
She thought she was going to die.
Then—
A hand grabbed hers.
Firm.
Unyielding.
Familiar.
"I've got you!" Alexander's voice cut through the chaos.
Emily's fingers tightened around his instinctively, her heart pounding wildly as she turned her head toward him. His expression was sharp, focused, but there was something else in his eyes—
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
Behind them, Daniel's voice echoed in pure panic.
"THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE PLAN!"
Despite everything, a small, breathless laugh escaped Emily.
